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Another day passed, then another, then another. She worked, I worked, we reunited in the evenings on the couch with Chinese takeout and whatever stupid show we could find.
Whenever I worked behind the bar, though those times were now few and far between, she’d wait up for me. We’d exchanged breathless kisses and sipped milkshakes until two in the morning before falling into bed together.
And my hand would rest on her belly where the soft swell was starting to harden, and that child…mychild, rested beneath.
But on Sunday morning, something changed.
Sierra had been going to Sunday morning mass the last few weeks. There were things we didn’t agree on, of course, and me going to church with her was one thing. She’d said herself she wasn’t particularly religious, but I sure as hell wasn’t asit down and praise the Lordkind of Christian. I liked the picnics we had every Sunday in the church yard, though.
I was on my way to meet her there when I got a call from Grant.
“We got a problem,” he said before I could even say hello.
“What kind of problem?” I paused in the middle of the sidewalk, my eyes on the church yard only a hundred yards or so away.
“The account Sierra set up at the local bank here, well, there was a breach. Someone tried to access her account online, using her social security number.”
“We’re they able to get into it?” Not that there was much in there, but I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t money this hacker was after.
“No, but it’s plain as day that someone was trying to look up where Sierra lived. All of that information would have been in her account details.”
“Shit,” I hissed, looking around as if Jonah or her parents were standing nearby, biding their time to strike. “How’d you hear about this?”
“I have someone keeping an eye on her data footprint,” he said simply, clearing his throat. “Her medical records at the hospital are going to be a problem, Pete, if they keep looking for her.”
“They wouldn’t have known she was pregnant.”
“That doesn’t matter if they have the means and drive to look into her and find out where she is. The right person with the right skills can find all of this out.”
“What should we do? Close her account?”
“No, it’s too late now. I doubt they found what they were looking for. I just wanted to let you know.”
“Keep me posted if anything else happens.”
“Of course. Has she seen her mother again?”
“No,” I said, just as I locked eyes with Sierra, who was coming out of the church. She smiled and waved, which broke my heart.She had no idea this was happening—how far her family was going to try to find her.
“The offer to house her up here until this blows over still stands—”
“No,” I said firmly, then cleared my throat and continued, “that’s not necessary. Not yet.”
I hung up on him, sliding my phone in my pocket and putting on my best, although fake, smile.
Sierra always felt her best after church. Her smile was wide and genuine as she threw her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly.
“I think I’ll come with you next weekend,” I said, resting my chin on the top of her head and scanning the area.
I wouldn’t be going because I wanted to. I wouldn’t sit there with her because it would bring us closer together or me closer to God.
I’d be going because I didn’t want her to be alone while she was being hunted like a rabbit against a pack of wolves.
I wouldn’t let them have her. I wouldn’t let her parents, or Jonah, take her away from me.
If they came here and threatened her, they’d have hell to pay.
“What’s your ring size?” I asked without realizing I’d said it out loud.
